MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #32): Spring is in the air, it’s blossom season and the BinJin wedding was lovely. Happiness abounds!

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime, AppleTV and Disney+. There are also platforms streaming content illegally if you go looking. We don’t actively promote them as they are peppered with pop-ups of “Olga” and friends offering a good time, but we can point you in the right direction. We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when.

The previous thread is here but our list is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk are more uniformly loved or admired. In categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier moments. Writer/actor Simon Pegg referred to it fondly as “tonal chaos” - it’s part of kdrama’s charm. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance about suitability for younger viewers.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)
I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki/Netflix)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

Crime/Thriller

Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Graceful Family (Viki)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)

Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, no major site yet)
My Name (Netflix)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Snowdrop (Disney+)
Stranger - 2 seasons (Netflix)
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki/Netflix)
Crowned Clown (Viki/Netflix)*
Mr Queen (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Pachinko (AppleTV)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)*
The King’s Affection (Netflix)
The Red Sleeve (Viki)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Business Proposal (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Dali & the Cocky Prince (Viki)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (Viki)

Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*

His Master’s Sun (Netflix)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Viki)*
Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Lovestruck in the City (Netflix)
Monthly Magazine Home (Viki)
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*
Run On (Netflix)

She Was Pretty (Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)
To My Star [BL] (Viki)
True Beauty (Viki)
Twenty-five Twenty-one (Netflix)*
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)

What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)
You Make Me Dance [BL] (Viki)
Yumi’s Cells (Viki)


Romance - heavier weight/more grown up themes
Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki/Netflix)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Doom At Your Service (Viki)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Netflix)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)/Couple on the Backtrack (Netflix)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)
It’s OK Not To Be OK (Netflix)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)/Rain or Shine (Netflix)*
Mad For Each Other (Netflix)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (other sites)*
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki, Netflix)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Handmaid (film, Netflix - content warning: explicit sexual content)
The Package (Viki)

Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)*
Hospital Playlist 2 (Netflix)*
Into The Ring (Viki)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
Misaeng (Netflix)*
Move to Heaven (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Navillera (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

On The Verge of Insanity (Viki)
Once Again (Viki)
Stove League (Viki)/Hot Stove League (Netflix)
Racket Boys (Netflix)
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee (Viki)*

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier
Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
Kiss Goblin (Viki, webdrama)
My Holo Love (Netflix)*
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*



Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes
#Alive (Netflix)
Black (Netflix)*
Happiness* (Viki)
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (Netflix)
Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
Peninsula - film, Train to Busan sequel (Amazon Prime, iMovies)
Sisyphus (Netflix)
The Guest (Netflix)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*
Zombie Detective (Viki/Netflix)


Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
My Secret Romance (Viki)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)
School Nurse Files (Netflix)

Not Korean ‘You May Also Like’
Regulars also branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Find Yourself (Netflix - Chinese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
In House Marriage Honey (Viki, Japanese)
In Time With You (Viki - Japanese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki, Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki, Chinese)
Million Yen Women (Netflix, Japanese)
Morning Call (Netflix, Japanese)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Rinko Wants To Try (Viki)
Some Day or One Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
To Fly with Me (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)
You Are My Hero (Viki, Chinese)*

AVOID aka “the shit list” 💩

Melting Me Softly
The Birth of a Beauty
Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine & stands alone)

Posters’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

1. The Red Sleeve - 10 (2 votes, more pending)
2. Happiness - 9 (6 votes)
3. Devil Judge - 8.75 (3 votes)
4. Squid Game - 8.63 (12 votes)
5. Navillera - 8.57 (7 votes)

2020’s top scoring dramas
1 - Mr Queen - 9.4 (5 votes)
2 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
5 - Once Again - 8.42 (6 Votes)

2019’s top scoring dramas:

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, writers, film and music when the mood takes us. We have some ARMY (BTS fans) among our regulars. Some of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others, admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.

We sometimes resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or favourite actors’ names. Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.

If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in!

@LarryUnderwood

Re:hopping vampires, try Mr Vampire, its a classic of the genre. Years ago I went out with a British Chinese bloke and we used to compare old childhood favourites of telly and food, cos they were so different, Mr Vampire was one we watched together and its a hoot. Very dated/of it's time but still very fun.

😂😂😂😂 Mr Vampire!! That's the one! We had it on VHS!... It was sooo much fun! I'd love to watch it again... A good copy! There's some pretty rickety versions on YouTube! Andy it was in Cantonese... So I understand a teeny miniscule amount of it! 😂😂😂

@Bea I used to have a copy my ex made for me but it's lost in the mists of time...or the cellar. It was one of the daftest things I've seen, so funny. I particularly loved the way the vampire could smell breath so everyone used bamboo pipes to breathe...and am i right in remembering that they couldn't do stairs because of the hopping? Or stairs slowed them down??? May have to rummage I the cellar to see if I still have it!

@Rowdythree

Sorry that I'm very late to this but *@Metheven* I also thought he put a tracker in the necklace in SWDBS!

OMG, you guys were right! That never occurred to me... Maybe I am too trusting 😬

Ah, gosh! Sorry we spoilt it for you a bit!

You're all making me want to re-watch WFKBJ! Such a great show.

Musique** compelling watching, but not as good as the first season. Anthony Bridgerton is no Duke of Hastings...

hello I'm only watching kdrama, currently on Snowdrop ep 7. I tried Chinese drama but the tonal language put me off after hearing so much Korean . What do you recommend?

OMG, I started watching Old Enough too and it brings smiles to my face. Can you just imagine the carnage in a UK version!

I agree with you on the SK and PMY pairing.

@MigsandTiggs

OMG, I started watching Old Enough too and it brings smiles to my face. Can you just imagine the carnage in a UK version!

There would be a 76% increase in crying and a threefold increase in wingeing...

Tbh, FLAW was a meh for me.

@MigsandTiggs

OMG, I started watching Old Enough too and it brings smiles to my face. Can you just imagine the carnage in a UK version!

I've been watching this with my DD (12) we both love it, but I don't think I'd trust any of my kids to do these errands 😂

Nothing can beat Seo Dong Ma in his trunks at the swimming pool, or in the gym in Love ft Marriage , Divorce S3. Well, maybe NJH in WFKBJ!

After two years and multiple exposures I’ve finally got covid.
I’ve had 3 jabs so I don’t feel too bad - a cold and headache really.

Can anyone recommend a K film? I’ve just watched On Your Wedding Day which I enjoyed but I think it was aimed at a younger audience.
I don’t like violent, depressing or frightening so nothing like Parasite, Train to Busan, Old Boy etc.
I would be most grateful for recommendations, chingus.

Andante - commiserations on the ‘VID. If you can find Little Forest with English subs on YouTube or with Olga, it’s a solid warm hug of a film and very nourishing for the soul. Kim Tae-Ri is the FL. It’s very slow-paced slice of life through the seasons with a little romance on the side, lots of cooking and beautiful cinematography. It can usually be found on YouTube (enable the CC captions option for subs) but gets hoiked regularly over copyright issues.

Sorry you have Covid Andante! Sadly most of theK films I have seen are depressing. Much more gritty realism in those than K dramas. I really liked Heaven: to the Land of Happiness but it is depressing. There are some funny madcap moments though (road trip/jailbreak movie). Not sure where it would be available though.

Thank you both for your suggestions - I’ll give Little Forest a whirl.
Yes, it seems a lot of k films are disturbing and/or depressing.
I see that the makers of Squid Game, encouraged by its success, have planned an even more violent show.
That’s fine, but it seems the violent ones get the most attention and then people don’t realise that not all Kdramas are like that.

Hope you feel better soon Andante! At least covid has struck now than just before your holiday! Tune in for Love and a Wish You are both pleasent enough movies, fine for watching when you're not feeling up to much

Speaking of films, has anyone seen The Wailing? We might watch it over the weekend

Commiserations on the covid Andante. K films on Netflix that I can recommend include Miss Granny, The Bros and Psychokinesis.

I'm hoping to finish Black this weekend and will then probably give Tomorrow a go. I really enjoy the reaper ones, although Black has really stretched my memory skills with the convoluted plot lines and numerous characters - maybe I should have been taking notes like the woman on Gogglebox 😂

@Andante57 sending you best wishes, get well soon xx

I second Tune in for Love, slow paced, easy to follow & satisfactory ending.

Feel better soon @Andante57! Settle down with some gentle dramas for self care x

Get well soon Andante
Finished Run On. Baffling drama. So many characters and remained none the wiser about what half of them were after by the end. And couldn't fathom on/off dynamics of second couple at all. Were they together at the end or not? 🤷 meh.

Thank you so much chingus for your kind comments, they are jinjja appreciated.
I’m half way through Little Forest and I’m loving it and I’ll have a look at the other recommendations which sound excellent.
However dh has just got back from working abroad. Normally in these circumstances I cook something nice to welcome him home but today he’s had to go straight into cook/bottle washer/ dog walker mode.
We've got the last episodes of Business Proposal to look forward to so that’s perked me up.

Get Well soon Adante 🤒
I find soap opera type dramas are so easy to watch when overtired/poorly.
^Once Again
My only one ^
Are v easy to dip in and out.

@polkettle

Get well soon Andante Finished Run On. Baffling drama. So many characters and remained none the wiser about what half of them were after by the end. And couldn't fathom on/off dynamics of second couple at all. Were they together at the end or not? 🤷 meh.

It's the most meh.

Agree with FedUp & polkettle, Run On is très très meh

I am whizzing through Oath of Love - just realised FL is from GoGo Squid & Ashes of Love but really REALLY looking forward to next ep of Pachinko

If anyone wants to see a Chinese hopping vampire in action, this short explainer has film clips: m.youtube.com/watch?v=RN7Z1B0kaNU I can totally see how this would translate to the playground as a game. Also, if you don’t have glutinous rice to hand the urine of a virgin boy or a chicken egg will do the job. I didn’t catch the type of tree that the stake has to be made from, but that seems a faff when more mundane household options are available.